Scouting Report: Phoenix Coyotes

CALGARY, AB -- Not much has changed since the Calgary Flames last faced the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Coyotes are just 2-5-0 since the two teams met on Jan. 7, a 6-0 drubbing that went in Phoenix’s favour. Still, they’re just 3-7-0 over their past 10 games, too, dropping to ninth in the Western Conference.

The struggles for Phoenix have been widely offensive. The team has scored just eight goals in their past five games, something they’ll hope to remedy against a Flames team they’ve found plenty of success against this season.

Though the Coyotes have scored just seven times in the past four games, Yandle has been in on over half of them. The Phoenix blueliner has five assists in his past four games to give him a team-leading 27 helpers this season. Yandle also has 33 points, a share of third-best on the team.

WHO'S NOT

MIKE RIBIERO

Phoenix’s scoring leader when the Flames visited the Coyotes earlier in the month, Ribiero has slid to a share of third in team scoring with Yandle. Since his two assist performance at the expense of the Flames, Ribiero has just two points in seven games. Extending further, he has seven points in his past 18 games.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

RADIM VRBATA

Vrbata, a surprise Olympic omission from the Czech Republic, has been the most productive player for Phoenix at this stage of the season. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound forward has 11 goals and 35 points in 47 games this year.

MIKKEL BOEDKER

The 24-year-old Boedker is having a breakout year for Phoenix. Though the calendar still shows January, Boedker has established new career-highs in goals (14) and points (32) through 49 games this season. His totals have him a share of the team-lead in tallies, while he sits fifth in total points.

MARTIN HANZAL

Though he’s listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury, Hanzal could make his return Wednesday against the Flames. He, like Boedker and Antoine Vermette, have a share of the team lead with 14 goals. His 32 points trail only Vrbata’s 35, too.